NASCAR

Kyle Larson wins second NASCAR Cup Series title at Phoenix Raceway

Motorsport Technology
1 week ago
5 min read

Kyle Larson left it as late as possible to shock Denny Hamlin and snatch a second NASCAR Cup Series title from under the nose of his title rival.

It was somewhat cruel on Hamlin, who had led the standings for much of the regular season as well as much of the race only for a late yellow caution, caused by William Byron, to gift Hendrick Motorsports teammate Larson a chance.

And it was an opportunity that the Californian grabbed with both hands, a brilliant two tire strategy allowing him to take third place behind Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski.

That was enough to give Larson the overall title with Hamlin finishing down in sixth position.

“Honestly, I can’t believe it,” Larson is quoted on the official Hendrick Motorsports website. “I mean, really, I’m just speechless. I can’t believe it. We had an average car at best. We had the right-front (tire) go down, lost a lap.

“Got saved by the caution. Did the wave around. Was really bad that run. We took two tires. I was like, ‘Oh, God, here we go. We’re going to go to the back now.’ It had a lot more grip than I anticipated.”

THE TALE OF A DRAMATIC RACE – VIA HENDRICK OFFICIAL

In many ways, the afternoon embodied the very traits that have made the No. 5 team formidable in recent seasons, most notably its ability to overcome adversity. To say the least, a championship seemed improbable throughout most of stage three.

Byron was hardly the only driver to suffer from a tire issue. In fact, flats were the theme Friday’s practice and that continued into Sunday’s event.

Larson was among the numerous drivers snakebitten, having a tire go down with just 97 laps remaining. He was able to duck onto pit road, but the race stayed green and the 5 team fell a lap down.

Just two laps later, however, a third member of the Championship 4, Chase Briscoe, also had a tire go down followed by one for Noah Gragson. The latter incident caused a caution flag and allowed Larson to take a wave around on the ensuing stoppage to rejoin the lead lap at the tail end.

But from there, the climb was steep and long. At the front of the field, Byron battled with Hamlin for the race lead as Larson tried to pick his way through traffic. However, the cautions kept coming, and they started to provide openings for Daniels.

With 52 circuits remaining, Austin Cindric crashed. That allowed a four-tire stop and for the 5 team and for Larson to get back on even footing after being at a tire deficit for a handful of laps prior.

Then, with 32 laps remaining, JJ Yeley hit the wall. Seizing the moment, Daniels called for a two-tire stop, and Larson lined up second on the ensuing restart with Briscoe also taking right sides only and grabbing the lead.

Byron and Hamlin each took four tires, and it made for an exciting battle between all four Championship 4 drivers with a moment of four-wide racing at the front. With a tire advantage, Hamlin regained the lead and Byron pulled into second but despite losing the lead, both Larson and Briscoe were able to maintain track position inside the top 10.

Hamlin, whose car was better on short runs throughout the day, surged ahead and seemed poised to cruise into the sunset. But Byron, who was engaged in a battle with eventual-race-winner Ryan Blaney for second, had a tire go down three circuits short of the finish. The No. 24 made hard contact with the fence, and the yellow flag flew for a ninth and final time.

While it ultimately gave Larson, Daniels and company the final chance they needed, it ended Byron’s pursuit of a first title. He led 52 laps and won stage one on Sunday.

“I was really hoping we were going to take two again,” Larson added. “I felt like I learned a lot on that restart, bombing one and two really hard. Thought I could do the same thing if we got another one.”

The result also gave team owner Rick Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports a Cup-Series best 15th championship, all coming over the last 31 seasons.

“I almost jumped off the box,” team boss Rick Hendrick is quoted on the official NASCAR website. “I mean, I was ready to call Joe and say congratulations to Denny. All of a sudden, here we are, we’re going to win this thing.”

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